Africa: Donating used underwear to African women!

A group called The Knickers For Africa is asking British women to donate their unwanted old underwear to African women. “Isn't this an insult to the women of Africa?,” asks Kojan at Zimbabwe Today.

10 comments

  • Harris

    Would the women donating these items wear used underwear. This is an insult to the highest degree

  • osa pat

    This is the worst insult i have ever heard in my entire
    life, that is “Donating used women knickers”. I do however applaud their charitable gesture, even though it is very derogatory. Our answer to this gesture should be NO THANK YOU!!!!!

  • Fan

    Perhaps the other commenters should look into exactly what the charity are asking for .. please note the word NEW on their website!

  • Smith

    This campaign was started was because local people noted that girls who own their own underwear were less likely to be the victims of sexual violence. If donating a used good quality bra (and NEW knickers), rather than wastefully throwing away, has the potential to improve a girls life this much it is empowering, not disrespectful.

  • Janette Marais

    I agree that Used Bras are okay, but knickers should be new. I always tear my old knickers up, so that no one can use them.

  • Helena Horne

    I think that donating NEW knickers and good condition 2nd hand bras is a positive action as it will hugely improve African womens lifes. A report showed that the girls without underwear were far more likely to be sexually abused than those with underwear. They are so poor that they cannot afford underwear, I am certain that they would appreciate receiving the donated underwear than continue to go without. To all those that described it as an \insult\ are should put them selves in the african womens shoes and then perhaps realise that its a whole other world where people are poor and desperate and mostly importantly rely on certain donations. Can you imagine not having ANY underwear? And any way, who said anything about 2nd hand knickers? The people that assumed 2nd hand knickers would be donated are selfish and heartless and are the ones that are insulting the women- I did not, for one second dream of sending used knickers – im sure everybody can afford to donate one new pair.

  • I’m not sure where this has all started from but this is for a VERY worth while cause.
    We have been asked to donate bra’s that may or may not have been used and knickers – That are brand new.
    This is to STOP women of Africa and other countries that are are high risk of catching aids from being raped. A survey has found that women who wear underwear are less likely to be raped and catch the disease!

    I suggest you start to clear out your drawers and start donating to an extremely important cause!
    I have done and has felt most rewarding!

  • I read an article in one of the papers a few months ago and would love to be able to donate some unused underwear. How do I go about it?

  • ken

    yes you can donate both used and new underwear to underwearforafrica.moonfruit.co.uk or underwearforafrica.moonfruit.com

  • Kim

    Many of you must be more fortunate than I, as there were many years when I was a single parent that I shopped for used underwear for myself and my children in thrift shops! Wash and bleach and they are sanitary! By the way, I’m from the USA, so perhaps this is more of a cultural thing. To this day, underwear my children have outgrown, but are in very good condition, I donate to the thrift stores run by people with disabilities and my church. I came across this post looking for information about what kind of underwear people in Rwanda wear, as I’m going on a mission trip in early 2012, now that I no longer live in the poverty level. Someone please tell me what is so offensive about sending good, unstained, untorn, freshly washed, used underwear??? If you we’re so blessed to have to be able to have always bought new, you would understand. The girls I sponsor do not own ANY underwear and I know they’d be blessed to have any at all. -Kim

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